French watch brands

High-quality, technically flawless luxury watches do not always come from Switzerland! French watchmakers also have a lot to offer the cosmopolitan watch fan. This article deals specifically with French watches - curtain raiser for renowned watch brands and popular models from France.

The Tradition of Watchmaking in France

Today, Switzerland is considered the center of the watch world . But it wasn't always like that. Until the 19th century, France was one of the homelands of the most successful manufacturers and enjoyed an excellent reputation as the country of origin of exquisite men's and women's watches. With the flight of the Huguenots, the French watch industry lost some of its potential and popularity, which is why it has now lost importance compared to the Swiss watch scene.

Nevertheless, a wide range of high-quality watches are still manufactured on French soil, with Paris, Besançon and Charquemont being the most innovative French locations. Even though some renowned brands no longer have their headquarters in France, in many cases their roots go back there.

Famous French watch brands and their history

Reason enough to take a closer look at some of the most important (originally) French watch brands of all time.

Cartier

We start with a brand that is still based in Paris today and is known to every lover of luxury watches and jewelry: Cartier . The manufacturer, whose factory once produced the "Santos", the world's first pilot's watch, played a key role in establishing wristwatches as a popular accessory for men . Cartier has always delighted with its thoroughly design-strong collections and manages to win over young and more experienced watch wearers alike.

Breguet

Founded by none other than the legendary watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet , the Breguet company was once based in Paris, France. The watch brand, which has existed since 1775, is now based in Switzerland, but even after all these years, its French origins remain unforgettable. The well-visited Breguet Museum, for example, is still located in Paris and invites die-hard watch lovers and collectors to delve deep into the history of French watchmaking.

Bell & Ross

Launched in 1992, Bell & Ross represents the younger generation of French watch manufacturers. With expressive designs and superb quality, the brand quickly managed to establish itself on the market, with its unmistakable style being very well received. With four oversized numerals, Bell & Ross watches are subtly reminiscent of cockpit instruments and are extremely popular in the lifestyle segment.

Pequignet

Modern designs, high-quality manufacturing and a good portion of courage: Pequignet combines numerous characteristics of successful watch manufacturers and was founded in 1973 - despite the quartz crisis. The brand, based in Morteau and managed by Didier Leibundgut since 2004, has been able to hold its own on the market despite adverse circumstances and today has received a total of five Golden Dial awards.

Michel Herbelin

If you are looking for a slightly cheaper watch that does not lack functionality, quality and an authentic design, you will find what you are looking for at Michel Herbelin. Here, too, we are dealing with a watch brand from France that is based in Charquemont and produces high-quality models at a comparatively "low" price.

Yema

Whether it was North Pole exploration, orbital flight missions or the Proxima space mission, Yema watches were part of all these events. Since its founding in 1948, this top brand of French origin has been featured in several historical events, which has certainly contributed to its current popularity. The manufacturer's range includes an exclusive collection for motorsport fans, for example, but Yema also offers yacht watches and models with a "space travel twist".

Baltic

Founded in 2016, Baltic is a genuine newcomer that has made a huge contribution to the French watchmaking landscape. On the surface, the newcomer stands out from the competition, among other things, because of its price level. By using Chinese movements and other components from suppliers, this manufacturer is able to offer watches with sought-after complications and luxurious design at a surprisingly low price. An approach that is clearly attracting a lot of interest.

Elegance and style: French watches as fashion accessories

Even if watches of French origin do not enjoy as much attention today as they did many years ago, they are by no means insignificant. Connoisseurs know that men's and women's watches from France have a lot to offer in many respects.

With their commitment, one or two world-famous collections and great effort over the years, various brands have ensured that France has once again taken a firm place among the countries with a successful watch industry - even if not in the position of the leader.

Watches "made in France" bring a little bit of French "joie de vivre" to the wrist and can often keep up with the Swiss competition in terms of quality and functionality. What began with the Huguenots is continued today in the form of many new ideas and approaches combined with the tradition of French watchmaking and results in innovative models that conquer the world from Paris, Morteau and other locations with plenty of elegance and style.

Famous French watch models

Having already talked in more detail about French watch brands, we now go into detail and take a look at three extremely sought-after watches from France.

Cartier Santos

The aforementioned Cartier Santos is a watch that made huge waves. While the market was previously dominated by women's watches as pure fashion accessories, the Santos established the watch as an everyday companion for men - a trend reversal. A well-shaped, octagonal case, Roman numerals and clean lines give this special model a charming vintage flair that is rarely found in this particular look.

Bell & Ross BR 05

Equipped with a square case, the brand's typical oversized numerals and a date display at the 3 o'clock point, the watches from the BR 05 collection by Bell & Ross are extremely diverse and leave nothing to be desired in terms of appearance. Anyone who is enthusiastic about technically powerful timepieces whose high functionality is immediately apparent will certainly get their money's worth with a BR 05.

Breguet Tradition

The watches from the Breguet Tradition series were designed as a tribute to the founder's early works, expressing both the company's past and its new visions. This French watch series is of course equipped with the well-known Breguet hand and the Breguet hairspring. Excitingly, it allows a view of large parts of the movement and immediately catches the eye with its extremely unusual appearance.

Buying a French watch: tips and recommendations

If you want to own a French watch, it makes absolute sense to first familiarize yourself with French watch manufacturers, look at different brands and browse through the collections from Paris, Morteau and Co. This will give you an initial insight and perhaps even identify your first personal favorites.

If you decide to buy a top watch from France, it is often a significant investment. That is why it is advisable to really take your time to make the purchase decision and the best choice, and if necessary to seek professional advice. After all, the new watch should meet your own expectations as much as possible - and finding such a suitable model can definitely be easier with the right support.

If you are looking for a new watch from France online, you should also make sure that you are buying from a reputable seller. Unfortunately, it happens again and again that scammers try to sell fake watches. We therefore recommend that you take a close look at each source, check the authenticity of expensive watches and buy from proven, experienced dealers.

Conclusion

French watches may no longer have the prestige that surrounded them until the 19th century, but they are definitely still of great interest to investors and collectors. Many major watch brands, such as Cartier, Yema and Pequignet, still have their headquarters on French soil and, with the best quality, exciting innovations and versatile designs, ensure that watches "made in France" will probably never go out of fashion.